Anyone who has visited a grocery store over the past few weeks knows the coronavirus crisis has become an unprecedented challenge for food retailers.

Consumers, fearing they might face lockdown orders at any time, have been stocking up on essentials at a time when retailers face supply chain disruptions—the result: empty shelves. And as the COVID-19 crisis continues, the ritual of grocery shopping is changing. An increasing number of consumers are turning to delivery, curbside and buy online pick up at store (BOPIS) options to meet their needs during a time of social distancing.

According to data from Rakuten Intelligence, online order volume from full-assortment grocery merchants rose substantially from March 12 through March 15, compared with the same period a year earlier. Rakuten Intelligence tracks emailed customer receipts to collect and catalog item-level purchase details from a panel made up of millions of shoppers.

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